This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news

Campus Focuses on Tragedy at Virginia Tech

The Wednesday, Apr. 16, chapel service led by student pastoral assistants focused on the theme, "Alive in Christ," explored through scripture readings and songs of worship and praise.

The service closed with candlelighting and opportunity for the campus community to pray individually and in small groups, remembering the Virginia Tech community's tremendous loss in the wake of the Monday morning shootings on their campus, just three hours distance from EMU.

Campus ministries staff and pastoral assistants were available to minister to persons as needed.

Opportunities for Prayer and Support

• Watch the WHSV News Video Coverage of the Prayer Ceremony

  Monday Moment of Silence
  EMU will join other schools and organizations in observing a moment of silence at 9:45 a.m. Monday, Apr. 23, marking the one-week anniversary of the Virginia Tech campus shootings and loss of 32 lives.

• Candlelight Prayer Vigil:
  A prayer vigil scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, as a response to the showing of Invisible Children (Uganda) will now include prayers for the greater Virginia Tech community. Please meet on the front lawn at 9:30 p.m.

• Hokie Hope Day:
  Friday is Hokie Hope Day across the nation. Wear maroon and orange all day in solidarity with the VA Tech students, faculty, staff, families and alum.

• Talk with the Pastor:
  Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder will host the campus community on Wednesday, April 18, in the Northlawn residence hall from 4-5 p.m. for prayer and support for the Virginia Tech community, as well as any EMU community members who may have direct connections to people affected by the tragedy.

• Sign a Banner:
  Students, faculty and staff are invited to sign a banner for VT that will be hand-delivered to Tech's campus. The banner will be on display for at least the first hour of Springfest on the front lawn. The greater campus communities of JMU, Bridgewater, and Blue Ridge Community College are also participating.

• EMU's Counseling Center continues to be available to students, faculty and staff in need of support. Call (540) 432-4317 for more information.

Campus Responds

"We are deeply saddened by the events unfolding on Virginia Tech's campus in Blacksburg, Va.," wrote Eastern Mennonite University provost Dr. Beryl Brubaker in a campus communiqué Monday afternoon, April 16.

She spoke on behalf of President Loren E. Swartzendruber, who was traveling out of the state at the time, regarding the confirmed deaths of more than 30 people on the campus of Virginia Tech.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Va. Tech campus community and all the families and friends affected by this tragedy," she continued.

"A 'monumental horror' rightly describes today’s killings at Virginia Tech," said Nancy Good Sider, trauma healing expert and associate professor in EMU's Center for Justice and Peacebuilidng.

These were the words used by the university's president, Dr. Charles Steger, to capture the impact of this large-scale, unexpected violence on the students, faculty and staff of Virginia Tech.

"The family and friends of those killed, wounded and impacted in other ways need our prayers and ongoing concern," said Sider. "The next hours and days are critical in terms of how survivors and family members are cared for and given the safe physical and emotional space to cry, be angry and ask questions. This begins the long journey that includes psychological, social and spiritual support needed for the healing of individual and community trauma."

— posted April 16, 2007